Conceivably, the wisest and most metaphysical admonition is ascribed to Socrates. The wise man’s mandate, “know thyself,” recommends the rigorous self-examination of one’s own strengths (“virtues”)and limitations to understand oneself. He famously articulated the classic emphatic statement: “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
We have ventured to opine in past writings that one’s self-image is developed early in life by the subjective perception of the responsive manner in which those with whom one interacts. It is our belief that the resultant self-image constitutes the reference point relative to the perception of oneself and one’s ambient environment. It is tautologically empirical to predict that the response to ubiquitous stimuli will be consistent with such nuanced perception.
We would risk the charge of presumption by declaring that impactful events may change one’s subjective evaluation of reality, albeit the basic foundational elements, such as the metaphysical significance of truth, and basic humanism, would, by and large, endure. It is empirically undeniable that life has become, and continues to develop in ways unprecedented in past experience (Ex.: digital interaction).
In keeping with the preceding declaration, it would follow that the change in empirical ambience or other critical events may occasion a temporary or, perhaps, sustained, perceptive modification of extant reality. In our rapidly changing world, in major contrast to the socially predictable Ancient Greece of Socrates, adjustments to previously held self-evaluations may be necessary or expedient. Aside from the fundamental existence of moral virtue and basic humanistic inclination, one’s self-identity (“Know thyself”) may be objectively (although not ethically ) caused to undergo (temporal or permanent) situational modification. In such a case, the contemplative individual does well to recognize his change in outlook and its empirical justification, to avoid inner conflict or systemic confusion.
In any case, the Socratic admonition to “Know Thyself” remains universally and eternally mandated, albeit thematically subject to empirically recognized changes in role or responsibility (e.g., parental, professional, experiential). The inner awareness, recommended by the great philosopher, may, when appropriate, require an empirically rational update.
-p.
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